SlytherinS

Tonks and Harry were sitting on the roof on Grimmauld-place, staring at the stars. Harry had his arms around his older girlfriend as they chattered about what they hoped would be their future after the war. 

"Will you stay with the Aurors?"

"I think so, it just makes me feel so accomplished. It is such a great feeling when you know you've kept someone safe." 

"Even after everything the ministry has done though? They nearly ruined us."

"I know." Tonks spoke quietly in reply. Turning her head up to the stars she said "Just because of what the ministry does though, does not mean I can't protect others. The people are worth the ministry hassle."

Kissing his girlfriend on the cheek, Harry whispered lovingly, "you are so amazing. I hope you know how much you are loved and thanked by everyone. We all owe you so much."

Smiling softly, Tonks' eyes turned pink because of her emotions. Seeing this, Harry laughed slightly before mummering in her ear "I love you too". 

Turning back to the younger boy, Tonks smiles before leaning in and pressing a light kiss on the 18 year olds lips. 

"How are things going Nymphie?" 

"I'm okay, just scared."

"I think we all are. It's a big thing. War. I wish we weren't in this time." 

Nodding the two stay silent for a bit before Harry speaks again. 

"I wish we could just be like the muggles in the fairy tale stories and ride off into the sunset together." 

"Dream on. Can you really see me in a dress, on a horse, riding with my knight in shining armour?" 

"Oh I was thinking you were the Knight and I was the damsel!"

"I reckon the lack of sleep has gotten to your brain Harry, babe" 

"Nah, I just know what you are like."

"Come on, you need to get to bed. We've got a busy morning with getting everyone to Hogwarts tomorrow. And I would like a proper send off from my boyfriend before he leaves me for 3 months." 

"What if I don't want to go anymore? I don't want to fight, I do not want to learn, I do not want to be near the chess player." 

"Well that's too bad for most of them. There is nothing I can do to help. Even if I wished I could. And you know I'll have to get Molly involved if you keep talking like this. And you know how she is with you anyway."

"Oh please don't. I'll go I'll go. That's playing dirty. I just…"

Taking Harry into her arms, Tonks hummed. "I know, baby. But you'll be okay. You're gonna be just fine, you will succeed and then everything will be good. Just stay away form him as much as you can. Please." 

"Yeah I will. It's like he has a fishing rod and I'm the fish though. Hmm. I wonder if I can be a more powerful fish that ends up drowning him." 

Tonks just laughed in reply whilst shaking her head. She stood up before holding out her hand for Harry. Taking the others hand, the couple slowly make their way back to the window to Grimmauld-places Hall.  

Walking into his bedroom after saying goodnight to Tonks outside her room, Harry has a dopey grin on his face. Changing for bed, Harry rolls down his quilt. That's when he sees it. 

Sat, inconspicuously on his bed under the blanket, is a letter. It was a letter he was expecting, but one he is dreading as well. It was from his master, the chess player, the one who tells him about his challenges but never gives all the details. 

Picking it up with shaking hands, Harry stares at his name in swirly writing on the front. 

Harold Arthur James Weasley

The bed on the left

In the gold and blue bedroom 

4th floor, Grimmauld-place

How these letters always manahe to find him exactly when he is alone he never knows. But he knew the full name spelled bad news. 

Taking a deep breath in, Harry cuts open the envelope and pulls out the letter. Shaking it out he winces. "He is not pleased." Harry thought as he feels his hand gets covered repeatedly in imaginary papercuts. Dropping the two peices of paper onto his bed. The curses stop. 

There is only 5 words written, in the same swirly handwriting, but the point comes across either way. They stare up at him. The disappointment and anger at his failure feels just as bad as the imaginary cuts did. The reminder pierces his heart. He freezes as he reads the 5 angrily written words. 

Do better. Slytherins in danger.

Closing his eyes, Harry knows he hasn't been doing enough. He knew he had been lax since the summer and even before then, things just didn't seem to work so he just let it be. But starting tomorrow, his last year will be focused on his adventure, his task, his challenge. Screw School. The war and his part in it is more important. He will prove why he forced the hat to put in him Slytherin. He will prove why the joke he plays by defying his family is worth it. He has to, the kids in Slytherin depend on it. As does his life. 

Looking over at Fred and George, Harry checks they are asleep before performing a spell. "Incideo." He whispers as he then watches the letter light up in flames. The lights reflects of his glasses before snuffing out. Getting into his bed agter checking once more on the other two, Harry flings the soot around the bedroom before placing his wand and glasses on his bedside table and turning the dim light off. 

Closing his bright, spell like green eyes, he goes to sleep. But he doesn't stay asleep for long as nightmares plague his mind. He tosses and turns, trying to escape something. He doesn't know what but Harry knows he must keep running. When suddenly, a bright green light blinds his eyes once again and he sits bolt upright. Breathing heavily, he looks over at his brothers to see if Fred and George are awake. Sitting in the dark silence Harry struggles to catch his breath. Not knowing his triplets were sat wide awake listening to him, but not helping. The silence between the three stretches. Flopping back onto his bed a few minutes later, Harry sighs before getting out a notepad and pen. 

Steps for now. 

He writes at the top. Before directly underneath writing 'Survive and marry Nympahdora'. 

He goes to write another point, and, holding his pen above the paper, just waits. He waits. He waits. He waits. He waits.